Newsletter Edition: Term 4, Week 10
TERM ONE Calendar of Events
Last day of Term 4 2020 Wednesday 9 December Australia Day Public Holiday Tuesday 26 January 2021 First day of Term 1 2021 Wednesday 27 January 2021 P&C Annual General Meeting Wednesday 24 February 2021
R
e
s
p
o
n
Principal’s Pen
2020 School Priority
Student and
Staff Wellbeing
Week 10
Schoolwide
Expectation
“I care for the school
environment &
resources”
We have had a fun filled final few days of Term 4 with students participating in
various end of year activities including the Inter House swimming carnival last
Friday, alternate program featuring Amazing Race, Year 6 Peer Skills Program on
Monday, and Year 6 Graduation celebration yesterday. We are looking forward to
the holidays and are thankful that we have been granted an extra two days.
Semester Two Student Reports, 2021 Prospectus, class stationery lists, permission
packs, student resource scheme and textbook hire forms will be mailed to each
family this week. Please take the time to read through student reports with your
children, and familiarise yourself with the 2021 requirements in preparation for
next year.
We are pleased to announce Taroom State School 2021 teaching staff as follows:
Miss Ash-Lee Lund Prep
Ms Michelle Peall Year 1
Miss Laura Reedman Year 2
Miss Gemma Harris Year 3
Miss Meg Reid Year 4
Mrs Mandy Hay Year 5/6
Ms Rosie Cranstoun Year 7 Form, Secondary Mathematics & Secondary Science
Mrs Karen Wolski (HoD) Visual Art and Primary Design Technology
Mrs Kelly Newton (HoC) Year 8 Form, Secondary Mathematics, Digital Technology & Business
Mrs Deane Hay Year 9/10 Form, Secondary English, History & Geography
Ms Stacey Tweed HPE and Food Technology
Mrs AJ Nowell Year 3 – 10 Design Technology
Mrs Pam Cahill Year 5 Math, Primary Health and Early Years Arts
Mrs Pam Jerrard Year 3, 4 and 5/6 Arts
Mrs Belinda Williams Secondary Ag Science and HaSS
Mrs Karen O’Farrell Early Years HaSS
We are very sad to be farewelling many dedicated Taroom State School staff, Mrs
Keryn Welsh, Ms Andrea Taylor, Ms Cath Ayres, Mrs Laura Boyce and Mrs Sarah
Crawford will be moving on to other schools, employment and motherhood. We
thank these dedicated staff members for their contribution to our students during
their time at Taroom State School. On the other hand we are looking forward to
Mrs Mandy Hay’s return to full time teaching, and welcome new primary school
teachers Meg Reid, Laura Reedman and Gemma Harris to our staff.
I would like to wish all students, parents and staff a happy and relaxing holiday,
and thank parents for their support throughout the unusual 2020 school year. We
look forward to seeing you all next year when school commences on Wednesday
27 January 2021.
Angela Heslin Principal
SQUAD SIX GRADUATION 2020
Gracie, Riley, Jake, Brontie, Lucinda, Maisie, Caitie, Caitlin, Cleo, Oli, Makayla, Jayden, Charlee, Jennifer,
Ryleigh, Isobel
Year 6 Reflection 2020
Seven years of primary school, seven years of fun, friendships and learning, seven years of listening to “what” we need to learn and “what” we need to think about. In Year 6 this year, we have invested time into ‘how’ to think. We have learnt how to think: analytically, positively, Outside the Box, faster, slower, before we speak, carefully, mindfully, kindly, strategically, independently, differently and critically.
Once we master the skill of ‘how’ to think, it makes everything else a lot easier to understand. Through accountable talk in our classroom discussions, we respected and valued each other and our opinions. Please take this skill with you next year and beyond. Being able to communicate actively and respectfully is paramount in learning.
Learning is often measured in how successful you are. Last week we acknowledged and congratulated those students in our class who received various awards for academic and sporting success. I’m going to share with you an insight into what everyday success looks, sounds and feels like in our Year 6 classroom. Following the awards ceremony, I walked back to school with a small group of Year 6 students who did not receive an award. Halfway up the hill, a student said to me ‘Mrs Welsh, my hands are so sore from clapping’. This is what success looks like - respectfully sitting, listening, applauding and congratulating your classmates. This same student stopped on his way out of the classroom at 3pm, turned and said ‘Thanks for teaching me today Mrs Welsh.’ This is what success sounds like – grateful, mindful and generous. Success in learning is also about feeling. Unless you feel successful…what was the point? Common phrases regularly heard in our classroom that reflect students feeling successful are: ‘Mrs Welsh, I’ve finished my homework! Mrs Welsh, you are going to be so proud of me! Mrs Welsh I just love assessment, it feels so good when you are finished!’ This is what success feels like – pride, confidence and growth.
We opened our Keep the Quotes this year with:
‘Leadership isn’t about being in charge, it’s about taking care of people in your charge.’
Today I am sharing with you our closing quote:
‘Success is not in what you have, but the person you are.’
Therefore, if the 16 bright young minds I have in my charge leave Year 6 feeling cared for and successful, then my job is complete.
I have a gift for each of you that contains four symbols to help you remember your time in Year 6 at Taroom State School.
The first is a whistle, this is to remind you of our morning games, leadership and how much fun we had.
The second is a compass, this is to keep you heading in the right direction. Your paths will all be different and remember ‘you didn’t come this far to only come this far.’
The third is an NRL mini football, this is to remind you of our footy tipping competition,that maths really is important in everyday life and gambling is actually not a good idea!
The fourth symbol is a quote card, this is to remind you of the remarkable quotes we shared throughout the year, to keep exercising your growth mindset, believing in yourself and learning from your mistakes.
Thank you for the pleasure and privilege of being your Year 6 teacher – you will always hold a special place in my memory.
Mrs Welsh
Year 6 students recently participated in a two-day
Peer Skills Workshop. Peer Skills recognises that
young people already have the ability to support
their friends and peers and this workshop offers
the opportunity to enhance those skills.
During the workshop students explored:
Their own strengths
Issues that young people face
Values, attitudes and beliefs
Effective listening and responding
Problem solving
Taking care of their wellbeing
Accessing help
Junior School Captain Gracie thanked Guidance
Officer Annette McLean for facilitating the peer
skills program with Ms Groves-Pearce. She also
thanked Mrs McLean for her dedication to all
students at Taroom State School and wished her
the best of luck in her new schools. Thank you
Annette!
Our school ovals have had an upgrade with the addition of five advanced leopard trees. Thank you to our P&C for organising and planting the trees which were sponsored by Glencore - Wandoan Coal Project Community Investment Program. We thank Glencore for their continuted support of our school and congratulate our Taroom State School P&C Funding Association on their successful grant submission.
Students of the Week
Caitlin, Riley
Cash, Matilda
Absent: Sarah-Jane, Spencer
Thank you to the following people for your support at the swimming carnival:
Bill Hickey – Starter
Brian & Nat Argus – Donation of Ice
P & C – Canteen
Maisie Hay – Student Official
Parents & Past Students – Timekeeping & Officials
A huge thank you to this year’s Taroom State School Swimming Carnival Sponsors Wild Cattle Company
(Brian and Tara Lovett), Brian and Natalie Argus, Triple S Santas (The Bruggemann Family), Steve and Naomi
Roberts, Andrew and Gayle Bunker and Rich and Janie Hooper.
Thank you to Bob & Ann Foster for donating our new Inter-house Swimming Shield.
AGE CHAMPIONS
AGE BOYS GIRLS
8 Years 1st Hunter
2nd Ryder
3rd Spencer
1st Daisy
2nd Kallie
3rd Sophia
9 Years
1st Ben E
2nd Ben W
2nd Lucas
1st Ella
2nd Mia
3rd Dakota
10 Years 1st Bradley
2nd Jaylan
3rd Kadyn
1st Willow
2nd Isabel AP
3rd Callie
11 Years 1st Jacob
2nd Murphy
1st Rihanna
2nd Marley
3rd Brydie
12 Years 1st Kobi
2nd Glenrowan
2nd Riley
1st Bianca
2nd Isabel A
3rd Ryleigh
13 Years 1st Oli
2nd Lachlan G
3rd Lachlan W
1st Gracie
2nd Emily
3rd Alice
14 Years 1st Archer
2nd Billy
3rd Henry
1st Haylee
2nd Maddison
3rd Bridie
15 Years 1st Bayden
2nd Mitchell
3rd William
1st Madisyn & Annabella
16 Years 1st Jackson
2nd Darcy